While all kinds of ocean going vessels have been adding some sort of renewable energy source recently, who would have figured that you might soon add submarines to the list?

A Swiss company called BKW has revealed plans for what they call Project Goldfish, a submarine that recharges its batteries via an island of solar panels that floats on the surface above the sub. Generating power has always been the limiting factor for submarines, and while military forces use a nuclear reactor to solve the problem, that option's not available to civilian users. By going solar, the Project Goldfish sub can stay submerged for unlimited periods, while handling up to 30 people at a time. Passengers will be able to board and leave the sub via a solar powered shuttle.

With secretive Swiss developers and a name like Project Goldfish, it all sounds a bit too much like part of some upcoming James Bond movie. Still, BKW says they hope to have the sub operational by mid 2012.

Projekt Goldfisch, via EcoFriend.org